Comments on: Should people be pushed to act like they believe what they don’t? http://twentytwowords.com/2008/03/19/should-people-be-pushed-to-act-like-they-believe-what-they-don%e2%80%99t/ Experiments in getting to the point. Fri, 10 Sep 2010 05:29:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Rachael http://twentytwowords.com/2008/03/19/should-people-be-pushed-to-act-like-they-believe-what-they-don%e2%80%99t/#comment-18667 Rachael Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:34:12 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-18667 In answer to the question in the title of this post, if the push came from within (through God's power), even if it felt 'forced', I wonder if it might sometimes force the outside behavior as well...even if they don't believe it or trust the promise (in God's Word) at first, by acting upon it, perhaps the belief or trust could follow... In answer to the question in the title of this post, if the push came from within (through God’s power), even if it felt ‘forced’, I wonder if it might sometimes force the outside behavior as well…even if they don’t believe it or trust the promise (in God’s Word) at first, by acting upon it, perhaps the belief or trust could follow…

]]> By: Tim Wilson http://twentytwowords.com/2008/03/19/should-people-be-pushed-to-act-like-they-believe-what-they-don%e2%80%99t/#comment-18666 Tim Wilson Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:25:17 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-18666 This is a real toughie, but I'll throw something out there. In Amos 1:2-2:3 the Lord condemns the nations, and in 2:4-16 he condemns Israel and Judah. The actions of the nations that are condemned are all acts of violence and hatred, but for Israel and Judah it is acts of transgression from the law. It seems poignant that only God's people are expected to keep God's law (cf. Romans 2:12). The nations, however, are expected not rip open pregnant women, something that everyone knows is wrong, Does this give us a framework for how righteous we should expect people to be? I don't know. Asking more questions than giving answers I guess. And yes Jenna that's well annoying, but then the Pharisees looked holier than the disciples. The change in us is eternal. This is a real toughie, but I’ll throw something out there. In Amos 1:2-2:3 the Lord condemns the nations, and in 2:4-16 he condemns Israel and Judah. The actions of the nations that are condemned are all acts of violence and hatred, but for Israel and Judah it is acts of transgression from the law.

It seems poignant that only God’s people are expected to keep God’s law (cf. Romans 2:12). The nations, however, are expected not rip open pregnant women, something that everyone knows is wrong, Does this give us a framework for how righteous we should expect people to be?

I don’t know. Asking more questions than giving answers I guess. And yes Jenna that’s well annoying, but then the Pharisees looked holier than the disciples. The change in us is eternal.

]]> By: Robin http://twentytwowords.com/2008/03/19/should-people-be-pushed-to-act-like-they-believe-what-they-don%e2%80%99t/#comment-18665 Robin Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:20:00 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-18665 NO! And I think this is overdone with children more often than we realize. One of my most often googled posts is on my own blog; the title? "Jesus is NOT my best friend!" Interestingly, the key words searched are usually "Jesus is my best friend", but the essence of the post is how we impose a false Christianity on children, requiring outward behavior (or maybe more accurately mental assent) that doesn't flow from a changed heart. If you're interested...: http://openconversation.blogspot.com/2006/03/jesus-is-not-my-best-friend.html NO! And I think this is overdone with children more often than we realize. One of my most often googled posts is on my own blog; the title? “Jesus is NOT my best friend!” Interestingly, the key words searched are usually “Jesus is my best friend”, but the essence of the post is how we impose a false Christianity on children, requiring outward behavior (or maybe more accurately mental assent) that doesn’t flow from a changed heart.

If you’re interested…:

http://openconversation.blogspot.com/2006/03/jesus-is-not-my-best-friend.html

]]> By: jenna http://twentytwowords.com/2008/03/19/should-people-be-pushed-to-act-like-they-believe-what-they-don%e2%80%99t/#comment-18664 jenna Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:30:28 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-18664 good question and answers. this may be off point, but sometimes i get frustrated when people who don't even love Jesus act more righteously than myself. what gives? good question and answers. this may be off point, but sometimes i get frustrated when people who don’t even love Jesus act more righteously than myself. what gives?

]]> By: Tyler K. http://twentytwowords.com/2008/03/19/should-people-be-pushed-to-act-like-they-believe-what-they-don%e2%80%99t/#comment-18663 Tyler K. Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:29:14 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-18663 Ah, I thought it was a semi-rhetorical question, as though you were already decided. But I should've known better. Ah, I thought it was a semi-rhetorical question, as though you were already decided. But I should’ve known better.

]]> By: Abraham Piper http://twentytwowords.com/2008/03/19/should-people-be-pushed-to-act-like-they-believe-what-they-don%e2%80%99t/#comment-18662 Abraham Piper Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:52:19 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-18662 No, you didn't miss the point at all. I think you bring up an example of one of the ways such "hypocrisy" <i>is</i> worth it. No, you didn’t miss the point at all. I think you bring up an example of one of the ways such “hypocrisy” is worth it.

]]> By: Tyler K. http://twentytwowords.com/2008/03/19/should-people-be-pushed-to-act-like-they-believe-what-they-don%e2%80%99t/#comment-18661 Tyler K. Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:20:25 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-18661 Or did I totally miss your point? Or did I totally miss your point?

]]> By: Tyler K. http://twentytwowords.com/2008/03/19/should-people-be-pushed-to-act-like-they-believe-what-they-don%e2%80%99t/#comment-18660 Tyler K. Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:19:08 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-18660 It's only hypocrisy if you require it of them <em>for the love of Jesus</em>. Law, for example, is a form of righteousness that isn't hypocritical to enforce or obey. The motivation there is for the good of the individual and society. But really, no outward acts are inherently righteous or not. It all goes back to the inclination of the heart. It’s only hypocrisy if you require it of them for the love of Jesus. Law, for example, is a form of righteousness that isn’t hypocritical to enforce or obey. The motivation there is for the good of the individual and society.
But really, no outward acts are inherently righteous or not. It all goes back to the inclination of the heart.

]]> By: Joe http://twentytwowords.com/2008/03/19/should-people-be-pushed-to-act-like-they-believe-what-they-don%e2%80%99t/#comment-18659 Joe Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:27:26 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-18659 "Hypocrisy is the tribute that vice pays to virtue." Hypocrites acknowledge the standard set forth. That's a step in the right direction. “Hypocrisy is the tribute that vice pays to virtue.” Hypocrites acknowledge the standard set forth. That’s a step in the right direction.

]]> By: Dani http://twentytwowords.com/2008/03/19/should-people-be-pushed-to-act-like-they-believe-what-they-don%e2%80%99t/#comment-18658 Dani Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:10:13 +0000 http://22words.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-18658 Good point. Good reminder. Good point. Good reminder.

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